Instructions
Research the breed at your local library. Consult with the pet store that you bought the praying mantis from. Some breeds, such as the Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii or spiny flower mantis, are relatively easy to care for, but not all are the same. Implement the guidelines outlined, but always do your own research and double check the conditions needed for the praying mantis breed you choose to keep.
Keep your praying mantis in a well-ventilated enclosure, such as a large tank with a mesh lid. Ventilation helps ensure the praying mantis has plenty of air to live.
Put plants and vegetation inside the tank. The praying mantis lives in plants as its natural habitat, but the types of plants you provide partly depends on the breed you choose. The plants and vegetation are used as hiding spots, as well as food.
Regulate the temperature of the environment. A spiny flower mantis, for example, needs hot, humid temperatures because it's native to Africa.
Spray down the environment with water two to three times per week if your praying mantis needs a humid environment.
Feed your praying mantis an appropriate diet. For example, the spiny flower praying mantis eats live pollinating insects that fly. These must be provided to keep your praying mantis alive and well.
How to Keep a Male Praying Mantis Alive & Happy in Captivity
The praying mantis insect has a mystique about it that makes both children and adults alike want to get a closer look. From its long arms, where it gets its name, to its strangely curious head, the insect is one of many made captive by interested people who find them in the garden. Human beings obviously can't interview an insect to find out how happy it is with its living environment, but they can mimic the insect's natural environment as much as possible. The more the environment is like the insect's natural habitat, the more likely it is that the insect is kept alive and happy in captivity.